“let.go.my.hand” is the eighth track on J. Cole’s 2021 album ‘The Off-Season.’ The track features vocals by Bas, 6LACK, and an uncredited outro by Diddy. All artists speak about some lessons they have learned about life in their respective walks through it.
J. Cole announced his sixth studio album ‘The Off-Season‘ out of the blue as intended. The rapper only released an interlude from the album before the album release on May 14, 2021. This is J. Cole’s follow-up album to his 2018 project ‘KOD.’ Announcing the album, J. Cole said, the new album was years in the making.
The title of the song is allegedly inspired by J. Cole’s son when he said “Dad, let go my hand” to walk on his own. Cole also recalls a feud he had with Puff Daddy, but he realizes that it’s best to let bygones be bygones.
Listen to “let.go.my.hand” by J. Cole, Bas & 6LACK
“let.go.my.hand” Lyrics Meaning and Song Review
Chorus
In the chorus of “let.go.my.hand,” J. Cole calls this song a ‘soldier’s song.’ This could mean that this song is something of ‘hope’ despite all the odds stacked against him. A soldier’s song is one that boosts morale, gives hope, and gives a sense of purpose.
Verse
In the only verse on the track, J. Cole gets to work. He starts off by unraveling some thoughts he has been sitting on. He wonders if what he does, matters at all. Cole creates music, pretty good ones at that. He, and many other artists, have been churning the same butter for so long–topics such as racial discrimination, gun violence, police brutality to name a few. But has any of their attempts made any difference? He wonders.
Cole also reveals that this song’s beat was sent to him a year ago. He listened to it and sat on it. Inspiration doesn’t always click.
J. Cole also reveals that he is a man of many religions. He heard some stuff about the Quaran, the main text of Islam, and he found it interesting. He read the Quaran and extracted the wisdom in it. But he is not one to stick to the demands of the Quaran to be a devotee.
Suddenly J. Cole snaps into his relationship with his son. Cole knows the kid is growing fast and he does not have to go through all the hardships Cole endured as a child. However, Cole has no intentions to make his son a softie. He knows that everyone will be going at the kid’s throat when he inherits his father’s wealth.
J. Cole remembers his childhood, growing up on the streets. He put on a tough act because otherwise, you would not survive. He acted tough for the fear of his life. A gunshot sound still gives Cole chills.
In the last part of the verse, J. Cole brings up his altercation with Puff Daddy AKA Diddy. As the story goes, in 2013 Kendrick Lamar’s single “Control” sparked some controversy for calling out several prominent hip-hop artists such as Jermaine Cole, Wale, Pusha T, Meek Millz, A$AP Rocky, Drake, Big Sean, Jay Electron’, Tyler, and Mac Miller. Kendrick called himself the ‘King of New York’ and this didn’t settle well with these artists. Following this, at the 2013 VMA’s after-party, Diddy went to confront Kendrick and J. Cole intervened. This leads to a brief scuffle between the crews of each party and soon they separated and walked different ways.
J. Cole says back during those days, he was just a young artist hungry for all the success that was lined up for him. He didn’t know better than to fight against a competitor who was put in front of him. Cole says now he knows better, in fact, he knows too much now. He couldn’t care less to pick up fights anymore.
“Ignorance is bliss” is sometimes one of the best advice we can take home!
Outro
The outro is by Diddy, proving that there is no beef between him and J. Cole. These lyrics are a prayer to God to give them strength, open their eyes, and guide them through the hurdles of this world with love and compassion!
Let us hear what you think about this song in the comments below. Check out the complete lyrics on Genius.